Sunday, July 18, 2010

Welcome to the fourth edition of The Pulse -- The State of the Art -- a survey in words and pictures of the online artist community. Nearly 150 artists have answered a list of questions which make up The Pulse. Their responses will be presented as a series of online and print projects. Secret Sunday was the first project and the links to all the secrets can be found on the sidebar of my blog. The Book Guild is the second project and Chapter 15 starts right now!

All artists participating in The Pulse were asked to name their favorite art books. The Book Guild will present this list, along with links, book reviews, giveaways, and interviews with many of your favorite authors. And as members of The Guild, I am hoping YOU will participate by leaving comments related to the books in each post - for example thoughts, book reviews, personal experiences, or a link back to your own blog posts that include artwork based on a project in the listed book.
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Linda Moran said "I have so many art books, I’m not sure I could point to one particular one. What do I go back to? Anything by Joen Wolfrom, who takes design principles and applies them to quilts."

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Jane Royal chose Painting People in Watercolor by Alex Powers as her favorite. Jane adds "His work is solid, yet imperfect: a bit scratchy and un-finished. I find his is portraits to be very compelling and emotional."

Sarah Fishburn selected Social Realist Painting by Matthew Cullerne Bown as her favorite. Sarah says "At 7 pounds, 528 pages, and including 346 full color plates, this is a book to be reckoned with. See, it even makes me forget all the grammar I ever knew. Yes, it's on my wish list, but at $350.00 for a used copy, I will continue to peruse (and drool upon) my brother-in-law's indefinitely."

13 comments:

what a super collection of "off the beaten path" books. The titles are so varied and intriguing- this may be my very favorite selection so far.Such a wonderful series Seth. Gem filled each time!! It's a masterpiece that only you could have come up with, executed and done so perfectly. Thanks so very much!!! You're the best!

I really like the eclectic mix of book favorites you have put together this week. Hi-Fructose, Optic Nerve, and Gothic Art sound of particular interest to me. I'm so glad you exposed me to these latest titles. Thanks for all you do in the art community.

I really wish we'd have had to list the reasons WHY we chose the books, Seth. I looked through the favorites for this round, and really wanted to follow up on several of them, but it would be nice to have read the rationale. We're all starving and hard-pressed to spend $$$ on books, and a hint from another artist would be helpful.

whoa, i just popped back by to refresh my memory on one of these titles and see that my infinitely long comment from yesterday is missing! i shall re-post... paraphrased.

this is a fantastic list of "off the beaten path" books and not just because i provided one of them as one of my all-time favorites. i really, really want to buy the gothic art one -- wowz though -- $250+ from what i've found so far. hi fructose is a most magnificent book! i don't personally own it but have held many-a-copies in my hands. all of these look just magnificent and i love the varied styles and themes.

since your post, i posted a "why" as to my reasoning for picking this book (had received several emails about it)... but you already know that by now. ;)

I picked the Soviet Realism book because the art in it speaks to me; I make no claims for any one else, unless they happen to know that they like exactly what I do...Why does it speak to me? It is FULLY FLESHED art; that is these are paintings that are not just about color, or a pretty face, or even a clever idea, but about the visual documentation of lives. I picked it because I think most people in the US have probably never even seen it. I assumed anyone who might be even peripherally interested in it wouldn't depend on my recommendation only, but would maybe actually go to a library and try to see for themownself, and yes possibly seek it out at a university library if one's local Andrew Carnegie doesn't carry it. If anyone else wants further justification of my personal choice, email me so I can rant on. It is a GREAT book, in every sense of that word.

PSI work two jobs, and 12 hours a day most days, in addition to "being an artist", so believe me when I say I get not wanting to spend sparse $$ on books I *might* like...that's why I only bought Dusty Diablos (a much less expensive volume) after reviewing for Pasticcio. That's why I will continue to enjoy my brother-in-laws copy of my recommend seen here. But if I had the $$, and were looking to buy an art book, I would follow my own advice. Okay, I am now officially late to work!!!

And one more thing (now that I'm home from work!) Click on the image of the book Socialist Realist Painting on the blog. It will link you straight to Amazon, where you can read two reviews AND!!! You can see inside...